Nanopore reactive adsorbents for the high-efficiency removal of waste species

Abstract

A nanoporous reactive adsorbent incorporates a relatively small number of relatively larger reactant, e.g., metal, enzyme, etc., particles ( 10 ) forming a discontinuous or continuous phase interspersed among and surrounded by a continuous phase of smaller adsorbent particles ( 12 ) and connected interstitial pores ( 14 ) therebetween. The reactive adsorbent can effectively remove inorganic or organic impurities in a liquid by causing the liquid to flow through the adsorbent. For example, silver ions may be adsorbed by the adsorbent particles ( 12 ) and reduced to metallic silver by reducing metal, such as irons, as the reactant particles ( 10 ). The column can be regenerated by backwashing with the liquid effluent containing, for example, acetic acid.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent comprising adsorbent particles, interstitial pores and reactant particles, wherein the adsorbent particles form a continuous phase having said interstitial pores formed predominantly therebetween, and wherein said reactant particles are surrounded by the adsorbent particles and form a discontinuous phase or a second continuous phase, further wherein said reactant particles are reactive with at least one substance to be removed from a liquid phase.  
     
     
         22 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles are reactive with mercury.  
     
     
         23 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles are reactive with iodine.  
     
     
         24 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles are reactive with inorganic phosphates.  
     
     
         25 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles are reactive with at least one toxic target chemical compound selected from the group consisting of HCN, P(O)(OCH 2 CH 3 )CN(N(CH 3 ) 2 ), ClCN, (CF 3 ) 2 , C═F 2 , Zn(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , Hg(CH 3 ) 2 , Fe(CO) 5 , (P)(O)(CH 3 )(F) [OCH(CH 3 ) 2 ], S(CH 2 CH 2 Cl) 2 , C 6 H 5 OH, C 6 H 3 (OH)(NO 2 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 (CN), and (CF 3 ) C═CF 2 .  
     
     
         26 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 25 , wherein said adsorbent particles comprise MgO or CaO.  
     
     
         27 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles comprise at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver, iron, bismuth and tin.  
     
     
         28 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 27 , wherein said at least one metal is present in the form of a metal, oxide or sulfide.  
     
     
         29 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles comprise sulfur particles.  
     
     
         30 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said adsorbent particles comprise a solid carrier having deposited thereon a metal phthalocyanine compound.  
     
     
         31 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 30 , wherein said metal is silver, mercury, copper, lead, thallium, palladium or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         32 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles are reactive with biological or chemical contaminants, and comprise a metal oxide and wherein said adsorbent particles comprise surface stabilized halogen or alkali metal, or said adsorbent particles contains ozone.  
     
     
         33 . A composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein said reactant particles comprise polynuclear metal oxohydroxides.  
     
     
         34 . A method for removing at least one substance from a liquid containing said at least one substance therein, said method comprising contacting said liquid with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 .  
     
     
         35 . A method for removing mercury from a hydrocarbon, said method comprising contacting said liquid with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 27 .  
     
     
         36 . A method for removing mercury from a hydrocarbon, said method comprising contacting said liquid with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 28 .  
     
     
         37 . A method for removing mercury from a hydrocarbon, said method comprising contacting said liquid with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         38 . A method for treating a liquid feed stream containing an iodine-containing compound comprising contacting said liquid feed stream with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 30 .  
     
     
         39 . A method for treating a liquid feed stream containing an iodine-containing compound comprising contacting said liquid feed stream with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 31 .  
     
     
         40 . A method for removal of a toxic target chemical compound, selected from the group consisting of HCN, P(O)(OCH 2 CH 3 )CN(N(CH 3 ) 2 ), ClCN, (CF 3 ) 2 C═F 2 , Zn(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , Hg(CH 3 ) 2 , Fe(CO) 5 , (P)(O)(CH 3 )(F)[OCH(CH 3 ) 2 ], S(CH 2 CH 2 Cl) 2 , C 6 H 5 OH, C 6 H 3 (OH)(NO 2 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 (CN), and (CF 3 )C═CF 2 ,from a liquid containing one or more of said toxic target chemical compounds, comprising contacting said liquid with a composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 21 , wherein either the reactive particles or the adsorbent particles comprise MgO or CaO.  
     
     
         41 . A method for destructive sorption of biological or chemical contaminants from a liquid, comprising contacting said liquid with a nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 32 .  
     
     
         42 . A method for selective elimination of inorganic phosphate from a liquid containing inorganic phosphates, said method comprising contacting said liquid with the composite nanopore reactive adsorbent according to  claim 33.